Improvement in revolving cartridge-boxes



'Patentd Aug 22, 1.865.

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y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HOWLETT, 0F MANCHESTER, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING CARTRIDGE-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters'Patent No. 49,523, dated August 22, 1865.

- and I hereby declare the following to be an exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention is a tubular cartridge-box revolving in an outside cylinder, having its tubular magazines formed by ribs Vand elastic lining in the tubes, tbe outside cylinder having araised tubes-that is, an extended discharge-tube-to be iilled with cartridges and to be again emptied, While all the tubes hold the cartridges tightly and prevent them from playinglooselyorbeing injured by friction.

Figure l represents the cartridge-box; Fig. 2, the lid at upper end, with short lever or turnbuckle; Fig. 3, an end View of the inside revolving box, exhibiting its ribs and tubular magazines; Fig. 4, the bottom end, with its discharge-pipe and shut-off.

A is the outer cylinder, With a raised and extended discharge-tube, B, projectingbeyond the lower end to receive and empty the cartridges, and a shut-off', C, to prevent the cartridges from falling out when the box is being filled; D, the inner cylinder, with eight or more grooves, and flanged radial ribs E E, forming tubular receptacles between each rib, to hold the cartridges, the base ofthe grooves being covered with gu m-elastic strips F, so that when the tubes or receptacles are filled with cartridges they are held tightly between and in the grooves by the elastic strips and the pressure of the outer cylinder, and the cartridges are prevented from playing loosely or being liable to any danger by friction,andthey arethus held securely and safely until the charge is revolved forward to the raised tube and on a line with the extension or discharge tube B, when the' cartridges are then loose, free from pressure, and can be discharged at pleasure into the magazine of a Carbine. Thelid Gr contains a round aperture, H, in which the cartridges are inserted when on a line with the raised tube B. A

short lever, I, is worked by the thumb and tinger and revolved to operate the inside cylinder, and this cylinder revolves ou a center pin or journaLJ, attached to the bottom of the outside cylinder, A.

This Inetal cartridge-box is to be covered with leather and carried by an ordinary shoulder-sling, and its advantages are the safetyin carrying the cartridges and convenience for iilling the box and emptying each tube or magazine of its cartridges rapidly and with facility.

I do not claim a cartridge-box for holding tubular magazines, Whether stationary or revolving; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The construction of the tubular receptacles formed by the radial ribs E E, with their elastic strips F, arranged with the raised tube B and shut-off C, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

y CHARLES HOWLETT.

Witnesses:

J. FRANKLIN REIGART, JOHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD. 

